Devices for rotating a body

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a device for rotating a body, constituted of a geared wheel unitary with said body, at least one pinion capable of cooperating with the geared wheel and by at least one reducer unit comprising a drive motor, whilst a coupling connects the pinion to the reducer, wherein this coupling is constituted by a member that is distinct from the reducer and dismountable separately from said reducer.

l if Write tates aterii 1 [111 memes Henriot June l2, W73

[ DEVICES FOR ROTATING A BODY 2,892,357 6/1959 Bachman 74 421 R [75] Inventor: Georges Henriot, Houilles, France [73] Assigheer Ehgrenages at Reducmurs 3,373,626 3/1968 Maurer et al. 74/421 R (Engrenages Citroen et Etablissements Robert Messian Primary Examiner A T McKeon mums) vlllacoublay France AttorneyCurtis, Morris & Safford [22] Filed: Mar. 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 122,323

[5 7] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data This invention relates to a device for rotating a body, Mar. 1 l, 1970 France 7008740 constituted of a geared whee] unitary with Said body, at least one pinion capable of cooperating with the geared [52] [1.3. C]. 74/411 wheel and by at least one reducer unit comprising a [51] Int. Cl F16h 57/00 drive motor whilst a coupling Connects the pinion to [58] Fleld of Search 74/411 the reducer, wherein this coupling is constituted by a member that is distinct from the reducer and dismount- [56] References able separately from said reducer.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,639,624 5/1953 Falk 74/411 4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure DEVICES FOR ROTATING A BODY The present invention relates to a device for rotating a body of high mass about its axis.

Numerous devices are already known for rotating bodies of high mass. Embodiments are furnished in particular by the installations for driving grinding machines and furnaces in cement-works.

Such a drive device conventionally comprises a larger geared wheel unitary with the body, with which one or more pinions mesh, each pinion itself being coupled with a speed reducer unit. The means for coupling a pinion to the corresponding reducer unit is generally constituted by a shaft, which, in fact, is integrated with the reducer unit by a complex assembly. The known embodiments render the assembly and dismantling of the abovementioned shaft difficult.

The invention intends to remedy the disadvantages that have just been mentioned and to this end proposes embodiments which, in particular, facilitate the assembly and dismantling operations of the device and consequently reduce the immobilization times of the rotated apparatus, both at the time of initial assembly or of periodic revisions, and at the time of unforeseeable difficulties during operation.

Moreover, the proposed improvements concerning the assembly operations contribute an advantageous functioning, more particularly in the reduction of small irregularities in the speed of drive which may be produced for various reasons.

The invention therefore has for its object a device for rotating a body, constituted by a geared wheel unitary with said body, by at least one pinion capable of cooperating with the geared wheel and by at least one reducer unit comprising a drive motor, whilst a coupling connects the pinion to the reducer.

This coupling is constituted by a member that is distinct from the reducer and may be dismantled separately from said reducer.

The member connecting the pinion to the reducer is preferably constituted by a shaft comprising two groups of grooves capable of meshing with the driven shaft of said reducer and with said pinion respectively, this member moreover being concomitantly disposed substantially coaxial to the pinion and to the driven shaft of the reducer, which are preferably provided to be hollow to this end, and being capable of being placed in position by axial sliding.

At least one of the groups of grooves is advantageously shaped as a convex gearing.

Furthermore, the member connecting the pinion to the reducer is constituted by a shaft shaped as a torsion bar having a certain elasticity.

The invention will be more readily understood with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

The single FIGURE is an axial section through a drive device according to the invention.

It will firstly be specified that the drive device according to the invention is applicable to he rotation of an assembly of high mass constituted by hollow body such as a cement-work furnace. However, it will be noted that the above-mentioned drive devices are generally also advantageously applicable to the driving of a heavy body, whether or not it be hollow and provided with an opening at the end by which it is driven.

Referring to the drawings, the FIGURE partially shows a device for rotating a body 1, with one of the ends of which a geared wheel 4 is rendered unitary. The drive device comprises at least one pinion 5 which meshes with the wheel 4 by its outer gearing 5a. The pinion 5 is mounted to rotate by means of bearings 38 in the framework 6 centered on the axis of rotation of the body 1. It should be noted that the frame 6 acts, moreover, as casing and protects the wheel 4 and the pinion 5.

A speed reduction unit or reducer 39 is fixed to the frame 6 by its casing 40 rendered unitary with the frame 6 by welding for example. The driving shaft 41 of the reducer 39 is coupled in rotation with the driven shaft 42-of a drive motor 43.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the reducer 39 comprises only conventional gear trains. More particularly, this reducer 39 comprises four shafts mounted to rotate in the casing 40 by the roller bearings and provided with pinions which are unitary therewith. These are respectively: driving shaft 41, mounted to rotate in the bearings 44, with which pinion 45 is unitary; the intermediate shaft 46, mounted to rotate in the bearings 47, with which pinions 48 and 49 are unitary; the intermediate shaft 50, mounted to rotate in bearings 51, with which pinions 52 and 53 are unitary; and, finally, the driven power output shaft 54, mounted to rotate in the bearings 55, with which pinion 56 is unitary. It will be further noted that a plurality of pinions mesh with one another in pairs. Thus, pinion 41 meshes with pinion 48, pinion 49 meshes with pinion 52 and pinion 53 meshes with pinion 56. Moreover, the shaft 54 is disposed substantially coaxially to the pinion 5.

Finally, it will be noted that the pinion 5 and shaft 54 are hollow and are provided with inner grooves 5b and 54b, whilst a shaft 57, provided with ribs 58 and 59 judiciously spaced in order to cooperate, respectively, with the grooves 5b and 54b, is disposed coaxially to the pinions 5 and 56, in a housing 60 provided to this end.

A ferrule 61 is screwed in one of the end edges of the shaft 57. It is provided with a shoulder 62 and a counter-shoulder 63 constituted by a disc screwed into the ferrule 61. Between the shoulder 62 and the countershoulder 63 is inserted a closure plate 64 of the housing 60, fastened by screws 65 to the casing 40. It will be noted that the shaft 57 may be inserted into its housing 60, without it being necessary to modify the fits of the reducer 39, nor of the pinion S, but only by correctly disposing the grooves 5b and 54b so as to permit the axial slide of the assembly of the ribs 58 and 59 of the shaft 57.

It will be indicated as from now that the arrangement shown could have multiple variants and yet not exceed the scope of the invention.

Therefore, according to what has already been mentioned, there are generally a plurality of elementary drive devices similar to that described hereinabove, provided for driving the geared wheel 4 by a plurality of pinions 5.

Furthermore, in the device described hereinabove, it is understood that if the ribs 58 and 59 of the shaft 57 were shown in mesh with grooves 5b and 54b of the pinion 5 and the shaft 54, it is still possible that the grooves 5b of the pinion 5 are no longer internal but external,

that they are, for example, constituted by the elongashaft 57 with two outer gearings 58 and 59 and to dispose said shaft so that said gearings 58 and 59 mesh with outer gearings unitary with the pinion 5 and with the shaft 54. The important arrangement resides, of course, in the possibility, which has been mentioned, of positioning the coupling between the pinion 5 and the reducer 39 without interfering with the fits of these two members. This is made possible by the shape, which has been given as example, of the shaft 57.

In addition, concerning the shaft 57, two advantageous characteristics will be specified. The first characteristic resides in the convex form given to at least one of the groups of grooves of the shaft 57, to the grooves 59 in the example shown. The second characteristic consists in having made the shaft 57 so that it has a certain elasticity in torsion and so that it thus effects a transmission of rotation by torsion bar. The advantage in giving these characteristics to the shaft 57 will be seen later.

It will furthermore be indicated that the reducer 39 may have several variants, from which may be mentioned one similar to the reducer shown, but which comprises two or more planetary trains, certain of them being disposed, one on one side of the geared wheel 4, the other or others on the other side of said wheel. In another variant embodiment, the reducer may further comprise a combination of conventional gear trains and planetary gear trains.

The advantages that may be derived from the drive device which will be described and the progress contributed by this novel apparatus will be more readily understood when said device is used.

Thus, the fact of having designed the shaft 57, which connects the pinion 5 of the reducer 39 so as to be dismantled or positioned without having to touch either the reducer 39 or the fit of the pinion 5, firstly enables the reducer to be assembled in the factory, thus permits a good quality adjustment. This arrangement also enables any operational difficulty to be very quickly overcome. In fact, it is sufficient momentarily to stop the drive, to remove the shaft 57 from its housing 60 and restart, by driving by the drive devices which are not damaged. The reducer does not have to be dismantled immediately; this delicate operation is left until later. Moreover, it will be noted that it is then possible to dismantle the damaged reducer after having restarted operation, since said reducer is then uncoupled from the wheel 4.

Furthermore, the fact of having provided a convex form for the grooves 59 enables a slight irregular alignment of the axes of the pinion 5 and the shaft 54 to be tolerated, this being advantageous for effecting a rapid and simple assembly.

Concerning the advantage in producing the shaft 57 as a torsion bar, this advantage resides in the constant application of a reaction torque on the different gearings, even if the drive motor 43 has small functional irregularities. In the same way, the elasticity of the shaft 57 enables correct operation to be had with an uninterrupted bearing of the gearings, despite the small machining irregularities which said gearings may sometimes have.

Finally, it is advantageous to be able to choose the reducer 39 from the types mentioned, which in particular do not have the same characteristics of bulk, nor cost price. It will be noted, moreover, that it is still possible to adopt other variant embodiments of reducers such as for example devices with pinion and endless screw.

What is claimed is:

1. A drive mechanism for rotating a body having a gear wheel rigidly secured thereto, said mechanism comprising a frame, a pinion gear rotatably mounted in said frame for meshing engagement with said gear wheel, and means for driving said pinion gear including a speed reduction unit having a driven output member located in axial alignment with said pinion gear and a removably mounted coupling member operatively connecting said driven power output member to said pinion gear, said coupling member comprising a drive shaft; said drive shaft, pinion gear and driven power output member having complementary cooperating grooves and ribs formed thereon whereby said drive shaft transmits rotational movement between said driven power output member and said pinion and is axially slidable with respect thereto for axial removal from said mechanism.

2. A drive mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive shaft comprises a torsion bar.

3. A drive mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive shaft has first and second end portions respectively cooperating with said pinion and said driven power output member, with the ribs on one of said end portions having a generally convex configuration.

4. A drive mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said drive shaft comprises a torsion bar. 

1. A drive mechanism for rotating a body having a gear wheel rigidly secured thereto, said mechanism comprising a frame, a pinion gear rotatably mounted in said frame for meshing engagement with said gear wheel, and means for driving said pinion gear including a speed reduction unit having a driven output member located in axial alignment with said pinion gear and a removably mounted coupling member operatively connecting said driven power output member to said pinion gear, said coupling member comprising a drive shaft; said drive shaft, pinion gear and driven power output member having complementary cooperating grooves and ribs formed thereon whereBy said drive shaft transmits rotational movement between said driven power output member and said pinion and is axially slidable with respect thereto for axial removal from said mechanism.
 2. A drive mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive shaft comprises a torsion bar.
 3. A drive mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive shaft has first and second end portions respectively cooperating with said pinion and said driven power output member, with the ribs on one of said end portions having a generally convex configuration.
 4. A drive mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said drive shaft comprises a torsion bar. 